Clothesline



H. G. WERNIMONT.

CLOTHESLINE.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 16, 1919.

1,333 ,520. Patented Mar. 9,1920.

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A TTORNE YS,

HENRY G. WERNIMONT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

? CLOTHESLINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented llIa-I'. 9, 1920.

Application filed January 16, 1919. Serial No. 271,388.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, HENRY G. Wnnni- MONT, a citizen of the United States, 'reslding at Washington, District of Columbia,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olotheslines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to clothes lines, and more especially to those composed of wire links, it being the object of the invention to provide a clothes line of that character, the links of which are bent from wire in a novel and improved manner, in

- order to enhance the utility and efficiency of the scope of what is claimed without departthe clothes line.

One of the specific objects of the invention is the provision of such a clothes line where in the links can be readily assembled and taken apart, for lengthening or shortening the line, and for making repairs, and the like, the links being of novel formation in order that theycan be readily taken apart and coupled together.

A further object is the provision of a clothes line link comprising a clamping or gripping strand twisted or wound helically around a draft strand to receive and clamp or pinch the clothes, and means whereby the clothes can be readily introduced, and

whereby the gripping strand can be wound up tighter from time to time, in order that the tension of the gripping or clamping portions of the link can be adjusted at will in an easy and convenient manner. It is also the object of the invention to provide a; link having the characteristics above noted and whichcan be readily'bent from a length of wire, so as to becapable of cheap and simple manufacture, each link being readily made complete by itself, and

the links assembled by the user or salesmen.

.With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be apparent as the descrip tion proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts l1ereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made wlthiu ing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one complete link coupled to adjoining compan- 1 ion links,and showing in dotted lines the position of the gripping strand for inserti11 the clothes. 1

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the grip ping strand unwound and in its natural position, to illustrate how the link can be manipulated for detaching it from and attaching it to the companion link, and to also illustrate how the gripping strand can be wound upon and unwound from the draft strand.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line' 33 of Fig. 1.

Each link of the clothes line is bent from a suitable length of resilient wire of suitable quality, and comprises a draft strand 1 provided at one end with an eye or loop'2, formed by bending back the respective terminal of the wire, which is also preferably looped around the strand 1 as at 3, and then extended through the eye or loop 2 as at l,

to lock the terminal in place, and also pre: vent the loop 2 from opening under the strains. This loop 2 constitutes means for attaching the respective end of the strand 1 to the next link.

The strand 1 is provided at its other end with a loop or bend 5, formed by doubling the wire, and from the loop 5 extendsa gripping strand 6 that is slightly shorter than the draft strand 1. In the natural position of the strands 1 and 6, when they are 1111-,

wound, they cross one another adjacent to the loop 5 as seen in Flg. 2, and are arranged -a an acute angle. In this position of the strands, it is readily apparent that the grip- 'need not be assembled at the factory but can be sold individually; in any desired quantity, the salesmen or purchaser assembling the desired number oflinks.

The gripping strand 6 is adapted to be I twisted around .or wound helically upon the strand 1, as seen in Fig. 1, so that the clothes or other articles to be suspended, will be clamped or gripped between the two strands. In this connection, the free end of the strand 6 has a portion 7 extending at an angle therefrom and bent back to provlde an opposite parallel portion 8 constituting with the portion 7 an operating loop 9 that is movable transversely over and around the strand 1. The portion 8 is provided with a linger 1O bent back therefrom toward the loop 9 and forming a Ushaped seat 11 within the throat of the loop for the strand 1, said finger 10 constituting the other terminal of the wire which, owing to the doubling of the wire between its ends, brings the two terminals close together, one being used for connection with the adjacent link, and the other terminal being free and employed to retain the gripping strand 6 in place upon the draft strand 1.-

In winding the strand 6 aroundthe strand 1, the'free terminal of the strand 6 is moved back and forth across the opposite sides 'of the strand 1. Thus, taking the parts as seen in'Fig. 2, the free terminal of the strand 6 is moved toward the observer and then moved downwardly across the near side of the strand 1. lhe free terminal of the strand 6 is then moved away from the observer and upwardly acrossthe opposite side of the strand 1, the loop 9 remaining in its upwardly projecting position. This is repeated until the number of twists have been made with the portion 7 extending upwardly at one side of the strand 1. The loop normal straight position serves to swing the terminal of the strand 6 against and past the strand 1, so if it were not for the seat 11, the strand 6 would loosen itself and unwind, it being kept in mind that the strand 1 is not turned about i its axis in winding it around the strand 1 so that there is no tendency to rotate around the strand 1. If it is desired to twist the strand 6 another time r to around the strand 1, should the parts loosen 7 due to continued use, orshould it be desired 7 to disconnect the links, the loop 9 is pushed forming loop ore iitrance as seen in dotted line in Fig, 1, in order that the artlcle can that the article will be firmly held against accidental detachment. The loop 9 is released when the article is inserted, and more than one article can be gripped by each link if desired, they being moved between the strands one at a time, and each will be I firmly held. 7 V e To release the strand 6, for the purpose of detaching the links, or to regulate the tension, the loop 9 is pressed toward the strand 1, and said strand. then brought or worked between the portion 7 and finger 10 to move the strand .1 out of the loop 9 at one side of the seat 11. This disengages the re- 7 spective terminal of the wire or strand 6 from the strand 1, and permits the strand 6 to unwind to the position shown in Fig. 2. The links can then be easily separated, the strand 6 and its terminal loop 9 being readily withdrawn from the respective loop 2 of the adjacent link. The releasing of the strand 6 also enables it to be wound tighter on the strand 1, or to be loosened. Thus, when the strand 6 is unwound, it can-be rewound the desired number of turns, either less or more than before, according to the tension desired. It being noted that the more times the strand 6 is wound around the strand 1, the greater will be the tension. T his also permits the tension to be increased from time to time, so that if the tension re- -laxes due to the continued use of the line,

the strand 6 can be readily released from the strand 1 and wound up tighter, providing a simple and effective way for adjusting the tension. The naturalposition of the strands 1 and 6 as shown in Fig. 2, enables the twisting to be started easily, and furthermore, the loop 5 will be closed so as not topermit the links to become detached accidentally, although-the strands l and 6 can be sprung apart when the loop'2 passes the point of crossing of said strands 5. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is r A clothes line link comprising a straight draft strand having a loop ateach end, a normally straight gripping strand extending from one loop and adapted to be wound a numberof times around the draft strand by passing the free terminal of the gripping strand back and forth at opposite sides of the draft strand, and having a tendency to straighten outand unwind, said free terminal being provided with a portion extending at an angle therefrom and having a portion bent back forming a loop to surround I and extend at an angle from the draft strand when the gripping strand is Wound thereon, said 100p affording means for pushing the free terminal of the gripplng strand away from the draft strand, and the last draft strand when the loop moves away from the draft strand, and to permit the 10 draft strand to move between said finger and first named portion out ofthe 100p.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRYG. WERNIMOiIT. 

